First Lady empowers 5,000 women, says Nigeria entering prosperity
Kalu: Ndigbo not part of anybody’s one-term presidency arrangement
With one accord, the governors of Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi, and Anambra States yesterday urged the people of the Southeast to avoid political distractions, and vote massively for President Bola Tinubu in next year’s presidential election.
Governors Peter Mbah, Hope Uzodimma, Francis Nwifuru and Charles Soludo, said it was necessary for the zone to support Tinubu’s re-election bid to enable him consolidate the gains of his administration’s economic reforms.
They spoke during the All Progressives Congress (APC) Women Mega Rally and Empowerment Programme for the South east, held at Okpara Square, Enugu.
House of Representatives Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, shared the position of the governors at the event where First Lady Oluremi Tinubu declared that the difficult phase of the President’s economic reforms is beginning to give way to an era of prosperity.
Like the other speakers, she urged Nigerians, particularly women in the Southeast, to support his re-election in 2027.
Mbah said ongoing development projects, including construction of primary healthcare centres, were direct dividends of the Federal Government’s economic reforms.
The governor urged women to support Tinubu and APC candidates in the January 16, 2027, and sub-sequent elections.
“A good sailor does not abandon his ship mid-sea because of challenges. We must finish the journey we all started together,” he said.
Mbah described South Easterners as strategic people who have established businesses and relationships beyond the zone.
He asked them to participate actively in the political process.
Speaking on the empowerment programme targeting 5,000 women across the South-East, Mbah said the initiative followed the empowerment of more than 2,000 women in Enugu within 48 hours.
He said the beneficiaries received cash support, assistance with hospital bills and tools to enable them to generate income.
According to him, the programme is designed to make women wealth creators rather than perpetual beneficiaries of financial assistance.
“When you empower a woman, you strengthen the family. When you empower a woman, you build a strong community,” he said.
He urged the beneficiaries to make effective use of the empowerment tools and extend the benefits to their families and communities.
Also speaking, Uzodimma described the rally as historic, and commended the First Lady for empowering women across the geo-political zone.
He reiterated the commitment of the region to supporting Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
The Igbo, according to him, have experienced marginalisation for over 60 years, and are now beginning to witness a new era of political inclusion and development under Tinubu.
He commended the president for expanding the scope of infrastructural and economic development in the South-East.
“We are now seeing good roads, electricity, health reforms as well as educational reforms in the country. A winning team must not be changed,” he said.
He stressed the need for the sustainance of the current development trajectory, saying the Federal Government’s economic reforms have increased resources available to states for development.
“We have more money to build Okigwe to Owerri, Umuahia to Owerri, Orlu to Owerri and Owerri to Port Harcourt roads,” he said.
Uzodimma added that the improved financial position of the state has enabled his administration to pay salaries and pensions consistently, including 13th-month salary for workers.
Nwifuru, on his part, hailed the federal government for its skill acquisition and empowerment initiatives.
He said South-East women, in particular, should reciprocate the gesture by voting massively for the APC.
He described the APC as the only political party with a clear and identifiable manifesto capable of sustaining the country’s development.
The governor dismissed suggestions of his involvement in any political coalition, stressing that his loyalty remains with the APC.
He urged supporters to vote for APC candidates at all levels in the January 2027 elections and subsequent polls.
Soludo, represented by his Deputy, Dr Gilbert Ibezim, said the South-East had a responsibility to support Tinubu’s re-election in appreciation of his administration’s achievements.
He said the region stood to benefit more by continuing to collaborate with the Federal Government.
Pain of reforms over, prosperity beckons, says First Lady
Reflecting on the economic policies of the federal government, Mrs. Tinubu likened the hardship associated with the reforms to the pains of childbirth.
She expressed confidence that Nigerians would soon begin to reap the benefits of the sacrifices made and assured the gathering that the President remained committed to transforming the country and consolidating the gains of his administration’s economic policies.
“As the President said, it is time for prosperity. You know, the pain of labour to birth a child is over. It is time for joy and prosperity,” she declared.
Nigeria, she said, is at the threshold of a new phase of economic development, following the difficult adjustments undertaken by the administration.
She maintained that the APC was committed to fulfilling its promises to Nigerians.
Senator Tinubu consequently appealed to women across the Southeast to rally behind the Tinubu-Shettima ticket in the 2027 presidential election, describing continuity as important to consolidating the administration’s reforms.
The rally, which attracted women leaders, party stakeholders and supporters from the five Southeast states, also provided a platform for highlighting the administration’s programmes and mobilising support for APC candidates ahead of the general elections.
A major highlight of the gathering was the First Lady’s flag-off of the distribution of empowerment items to 5,000 women, as part of efforts to strengthen their economic participation and improve household livelihoods.
She said her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) has remained consistent in providing financial assistance, vocational training, equipment and other forms of support to women, youths and vulnerable Nigerians.
The First Lady assured beneficiaries that the interventions would continue, stressing the importance of equipping women with the skills and resources necessary to become economically self-reliant.
The programme featured the distribution of empowerment equipment, including sewing machines, grinding machines and popcorn-making machines, to support small businesses and income-generating activities.
Earlier, the First Lady, accompanied by other women leaders, paid a courtesy visit to the state’s Traditional Rulers Council, led by Igwe Samuel Asadu.
Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers, Asadu commended President Tinubu’s administration for what he described as significant achievements in national development.
He expressed the council’s support for the President and acknowledged the First Lady’s interventions aimed at improving the welfare of women, youths and children.
The traditional rulers particularly praised the Renewed Hope Initiative for its empowerment and humanitarian programmes, describing the interventions as important contributions to the wellbeing of vulnerable Nigerians.
Why South East should re-elect Tinubu as President, by HoR Dep. Speaker
Also speaking, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, urged Igbos to embrace political inclusion by supporting Tinubu’s re-election.
Kalu said the Igbo had not produced a president of Nigeria in the past 60 years, and was therefore not party to any one-term arrangement for the Presidency of Igbo extraction by anybody.
He, however, stressed that the Igbo needed to to strengthen its political alliances across the nation to actualise a full two-term Igbo presidency in the near future.
He recalled that Tinubu, while serving as governor of Lagos State, maintained cordial relationships with Igbos and included them in his cabinet.
He commended the Tinubu administration for establishing the South East Development Commission (SEDC).
He described it as a major step towards addressing the region’s developmental challenges.
The Deputy Speaker recalled that President Tinubu during his time as governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007 appointed Igbo people into his government.
Kalu said: “This man has not hidden his love for Ndi Igbo. During his time as the governor of Lagos State, no Igbo property was taken.
“Nobody who was a business man in Lagos was arrested. Mr. Ben Akabueze was an Igbo man that he brought into his cabinet as Governor.
“It never happened before. I hope we will reciprocate his kind gestures to Ndi Igbo. We must do so this time.”
Kalu, who is also the Director-General of APC Presidential Campaign Council 11 (South), said that the promise of the 3Rs of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration made to the Igbo after the civil war, was not kept by successive governments until Tinubu became President.
He said President Tinubu has proven his love through concrete actions, including signing into law the South East Development Commission Bill which had lingered in the Parliament from year to year and from Assembly to Assembly.
He said:”I also need to remind you that after the civil war, we waited for almost 60 years for a promise that was made to the people of Igbo land that was not kept. The 3Rs: Reconciliation, Reconstruction and Reintegration. Was the promise kept or not? It wasn’t kept.
“Government after government ignored us. Administration after administration, they ignored the Igbo and we were waiting and asking, when will the messiah come to save the Igbo? Then came a man who loves the Igbo from his heart.
Other dignitaries at the massive rally were Wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima; wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Uloma Akpabio; wives of the South East governors; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite; Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh (SAN); and Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, eminent businessman, Chief Arthur Eze.
Also present were the APC Deputy National Chairman (South), Dr. Ben Nwoye; National Women Leader of the APC and Director-General of the Women Wing of the Presidential Campaign Council, Dr. Mary Alile-Idele; South-East Zonal Woman Leader of the APC, Dr. Oby Ajih; members of the National and State Assemblies, local government chairmen and other party stakeholders.
[THE NATION]
